Acharya Tulsi
Once Thavachchaputra was standing on the roof of his mansion. The tune of sweet songs reached his ears. He continued to listen to it. It pleased him much. But he failed to comprehend the purpose of the songs and know the direction from which the sweet voice was coming. He came down to his mother and began to ask her innocently where these songs were being sung. The mother replied, "Dear son! A son is bom in the house of our neighbour. These songs are being sung to celebrate his birth."
Son- "Well, does the birth of a son in a family create so great happiness?
Mother- Yes, My son!
Son- "Then, were such songs sung when I was born?" Thavachchputra happened to ask her in child-like simplicity. Mother said, "Dear child! When you were bom, more beautiful songs were sung, not for a day but for several days. The occasion was celebrated with great joy.
Son-"Mother! My ears are eager to hear those songs.
Then, he ran up and came to the roof again. He began to listen to the songs with all interest. But he now felt that the songs had lost that sweetness. His ears didn't please to listen to them. He was perplexed. What has happened? Are the songs changed or the singers are different. He couldn't understand anything. He ran to his mother again and began to ask, "Mother! why is it that the tune of songs has become so different now? why has their sweetness been lost? These songs appear to be so unpleasant to my ears."
These words of her son caused tears in her eyes. She said, "Dear child! the son of that neighbour had died."
The son asked, "He was just bom and has he died so soon?
Mother- "Yes, son! Dying and living are not in anyone's control. When he was bom, they sang songs to celebrate his birth. Now when he is dead, they are weeping and wailing."
Son- "Then, mother! will you also die?"
Mother- "Yes, son! Everone has to die. I too will die one day." Son- "Will I have to die too?
Mother- "My son! You should not ask such question."
Son- "What is the difficulty in letting me know about it? Will I also have to die?"
Mother- "Yes son! You too will have to die one day. No living being of this world is immortal."
Son- "Mother! Is there any way to save me from death? Mother- Yes son! There is one way. He who destroys his karmas through sadhana (spiritual practice) is saved from death. Then he is neither bom nor dies. He becomes immortal."
Son -''Mother! what has one to do for sadhana?"
Mother- "Son! the ascetic life provides one with a suitable opporunity for sadhana. One who does supreme sadhana of meditation during ascetic life is liberated."
Thavacchaputra's heart was filled with the spirit of detachment from worldly life. His desire to free himself from the bondage of birth and death grew intense. His feelings of detachment continued to become stronger. The mother became very happy with her son's state of detachment. If the son moves ahead towards the path of liberation, what else can make a mother happier. One day the 22nd Tirthankar Arishtanemi came to the city. The child Thacvachchaputra went to pay his obeissance to him. The Lord Arishtanemi's preaching had a magical effect on him. His vairagya (feeling of detachment) grew stronger. Having been initiated as a muni (monk) by the Lord and he became immortal.
Questions:
- What did Thavachchaputra hear when he was sitting on the roof of his house?
- What was the cause of Thavachchaputra's vairagya (detachment)?
- What way did his mother suggest to save him from death?
